Fast Growing Shade Trees

Updated on November 17, 2009

Fast-growing Shade Trees Introduction

When
trying to find information about fast growing shade trees, there are
some recommendations that you should avoid. Some of these so-called
fast growing shade trees are invasive non-native species or otherwise
have negative characteristics which make them poor choices for the
average home.

While
fast growth is a desirable quality of a shade tree when you need to
get results sooner, there are some drawbacks to many of the really
fast growing species. Many of these, by virtue of their increased
growth rate, produce poor quality wood and are weak trees by nature.
A prime example of this is the Bradford Pear which is so popular in
my part of the country. These trees grow fast and can reach a decent
height, but they have poor branch structure coupled with weak wood.
This results in wind damage being common to this species, and not a
strong storm has passed through here without seeing multiple homes
with this type of tree where half of it has broken off. This may not
kill the tree, but it effectively ruins its aesthetic value as well
as reducing its shade production.

So
what fast growing shade trees should I select for my yard? The
following is not a comprehensive list, but it includes some very
popular trees which have a high rate of growth and have few or no
negative characteristics. Most of them also grow in a wide range of
the U.S., so they are adaptable to many yards.

My Favorite
Fast Growing Shade Trees

Red MapleAcer rubrum –
The Red Maple tree is a beautiful tree that is an ideal shade tree.
The larger leaves and density of foliage make the shade from this
species nearly complete, so don't try to hard to keep grass growing
underneath it. These trees grow to a medium size, but some cultivars
have a wide spread that one needs to be mindful of when considering
placement. Fun fact – this happens to be the same type of tree
used to produce maple syrup. Red Maples grow at a rate of 3-5 feet
per year and mature at an average height of 60' with a 40' spread,
but larger trees are not uncommon. This one is my favorite and the
one I ended up planting due to its intense Fall color. There are
various cultivars with different ranges of color from fiery red to
blaze orange to one that is nearly purple!

River
Birch Betula
nigra
– The River Birch tree can be a very striking landscape tree in
wintertime due to its cinnamon-colored exfoliating bark. This
paper-like bark has always been one of my favorite qualities of any
tree, but the River Birch will grow nearly anywhere. They are
commonly sold as a multi-trunk tree and with their smaller leaves
cast a slightly less dense shade. If your goal is to have an
ornamental capable of doubling as a shade tree, then this is the
perfect choice. These typically grow 3-4 feet per year and will
reach an average height of 50' with a 40' spread at maturation.

Thornless
HoneylocustGleditsia
triacanthos inermis
– The Thornless Honeylocust has a terrible name, but is one of the
best choices due to its fine leaves and fragrant spring flowers. The
shade this tree casts is more open and allows dappled sun exposure so
grass can grow underneath. It is also great in the fall since the
leaves don't require raking as they are small and decompose quickly.
Thornless Honeylocust trees grow at about 3-5 feet per year and reach
an average mature size of 70' tall and 40' wide.

Small, non-littering leaves of the Thornless Honeylocust Tree

Lacebark
ElmUlmus
parvifolia
– The Lacebark Elm also known as the Chinese Elm is a non-native
species I can recommend, but there is a reason. Dutch Elm disease
has all but wiped out the beautiful American Elms across North
America, and the Lacebark was imported as a replacement. It has very
similar characteristics, and is resistant to the Dutch Elm disease.
It is another tree with some winter interest due to the exfoliating
bark, hence its name. It is a hardy tree that can grow in a wide
variety of soils. These trees are the slowest growing of my list
with a rate of less than 3 feet per year, but Elms are the
quintessential shade tree and require inclusion in any mention of
ideal species. Mature size averages 60' high and 40' wide.

Lacy pattern evident in the Chinese Elm

Maidenhair
(Ginkgo)Ginkgo
biloba
– The Ginkgo tree is another recommended non-native tree that is a
gorgeous tree for a number of reasons. First, it is an ancient
species originating on the Asian continent where specimens over two
thousand years old exist, and has a leaf structure unlike almost any
other tree you will see. They are golden in the fall, and they have
an interesting growth habit which, like many conifers, is pyramidal
in habit with regularly-spaced branches. In fact, the Ginkgo is the
only living link between lower and higher plants, and has qualities
of both conifers and deciduous trees while scientifically being
neither. It just doesn't get more unique in the kingdom of trees
than the Ginkgo. They grow around 3 feet per year and mature around
60' tall and 35' wide although much taller specimens are not
uncommon.

Ginkgo tree in gorgeous, golden fall color

Tuliptree
(Yellow Poplar) Liriodendron
tulipifera
– The Yellow Poplar is a stately tree. It gets its name from the
leaves which are shaped like the silhouette of a tulip flower. It
actually produces greenish-yellow flowers in the spring, but since
these trees grow quite tall the flowers usually aren't very visible.
This is the tallest of the Eastern hardwoods, and only conifers grow
taller on average in North America. It grows at a rate of up to 8
feet per year with a spread at maturity of 40', and it can top out
over 100'.

Weeping
Willow Salix
babylonica– The Weeping Willow is one of the most recognizable trees around,
and its long sweeping branches with their low-hanging weeping habit
is prized by many. I left it for last because it isn't necessarily
the best choice in all cases, but it does meet the requirements of
fast growing shade trees in that it does grow quite fast and produce
a lot of shade. Its roots can be invasive to pipes and sewers and
they have a habit of growing into such structures when unwanted
causing underground damage. It grows 4-8 feet per year and averages
30' tall and 30' wide, but larger specimens are common.

Fast-growing Shade Trees to Avoid

I
will conclude this list of fast growing shade trees with some species
to avoid:

Box
ElderAcer
negundo

Royal
EmpressPaulownia
elongata

Bradford
PearPyrus
calleryana 'Bradford'

MimosaAlbizia
julibrissin

Silver
MapleAcer
saccharinum

Leyland
CypressCupressocyparis
leylandii

Lombardy
PoplarPopulus
nigra

Black
LocustRobinia
pseudoacacia

For
instruction on how to plant your fast growing shade tree, check out my hub on tree planting tips.